The City of Snoqualmie will host a community meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 7pm at the Snoqualmie Community Center/YMCA, 35018 SE Ridge Street, to discuss recent home fires linked to lithium-ion batteries.
The meeting is an opportunity for residents to ask questions and learn more about the recent fires that occurred between March 8-10 in a Snoqualmie Ridge home, as well as safety tips for these commonly used batteries.
Snoqualmie Fire Chief Mark Correira, City Administrator Mike Sauerwein, and Mayor Katherine Ross will all be in attendance to provide information and answer questions. Additionally, the meeting will be streamed live on the Snoqualmie Fire Dept. Facebook page.
The Snoqualmie Fire Dept. responded to three fires in the same Snoqualmie Ridge home between March 8 and March 10, 2023. The preliminary cause of all fires was cited as lithium-ion batteries. The batteries were used to power outdoor home maintenance equipment. The first two fires were contained to the home’s garage. Unfortunately, the third fire did significant damage to the front of the home. No one was injured in these fires.
Following the second fire on March 10, the damaged batteries, along with other damaged garage contents, were placed in the middle of the home’s driveway away from anything flammable until a restoration company could complete the cleanup process.
The preliminary [3rd] fire investigation indicated those fire damaged items were relocated to near the home’s garage door, under the roof eaves, sometime between 2 am when fire crews left the second fire scene and when the third fire began around 8 pm, March 10. It is believed the lithium-ion batteries damaged in the second fire triggered a fire in the contents that had been relocated near the exterior of the garage door and then spread to the home.
Lithium-ion batteries are very common, supplying power to many kinds of devices, including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes, yard maintenance equipment, and even cars. If they are damaged or used incorrectly, they can catch fire or explode.
Here are some important lithium-ion battery safety tips:
- Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
- Put batteries in the device the right way.
- Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
- Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
- Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
- Keep batteries at room temperature when possible.
- Do not charge batteries at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).
- Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire
To watch the March 15, 2023, Community Meeting online, visit the City of Snoqualmie Fire Dept. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Snoqualmiefire.
To submit questions before the meeting, please email EOC@snoqualmiewa.gov.